According to Chronicle Live, Newcastle United are entering new territory with the potential of offering lucrative club record-breaking deals to Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.
The Magpies have huge ambitions to become one of the most successful clubs in England over the coming years ahead, and with huge ambition comes the responsibility to deliver and progress to expectations.
Since the Saudi-led takeover in October 2021, Newcastle have gone from relegation fodder to competing in the Champions League amongst the likes of Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
Indeed, it hasn’t been a complete success and bumps in the road were bound to be hit with the situation that was inherited from former owner Mike Ashley, which ultimately has left the club struggling to keep up in the transfer market with restrictions on spending due to FFP regulations.
Nevertheless, Newcastle have battled through by signing and polishing up some players who have easily become some of the most talented in the Premier League in the last three years.
Bruno Guimaraes, Alexander Isak, Sven Botman and Anthony Gordon have easily become fan favourites thanks to the blatant boost of quality they add to the team and to the performances often seen at St James’ Park.
Perhaps at the habit of expectation during the Ashley era, a concern of the best players at the club leaving for bigger and better opportunities in the immediate still has a hold on supporters.
While Champions League qualification in the 2022/2023 campaign was a dream come true for the Geordies, the 12 months following that high, with injuries and a lack of European football secured, will no doubt spark fears that the players could have their heads turned by clubs who can make lucrative offers that in some instances would be impossible for Newcastle to refuse.
This is why a healthy contract strategy is absolutely essential for the North East outfit, to ensure that they will never find themselves in a situation where the ball isn’t in their court and any outgoings sanctioned would be completely at the club’s discretion.
Chronicle Live is reporting today that Alexander Isak could be on course to become the highest earning player at the club ever, with a potential to smash salary records to meet the £200k-a-week demands of the Swedish striker’s representatives.
The 25-year-old goal machine remains in talks to extend his stay on Tyneside, but there are claims that he would require a release clause in his contract, similar to that of Guimaraes before him.
On Anthony Gordon, the same publication reveals that the Scouser’s new deal is on the cusp of announcement, with the England international set to sign away his future to the club that has given him opportunities to flourish and break into the international side.
Will Alexander Isak sign a new contract at Newcastle?
There is no doubt that fans will be delighted to hear that the club are fully focused on getting these two deals done, as the pair have been a revelation in the final third since their arrival.
However, it will be interesting to see just how far Isak’s representatives will be able to push the powers on Tyneside to get the deal that they want, with the release clause a potential concern if Newcastle can’t make that instant progression they so desperately desire.
Newcastle are in a rapidly evolving era and if they want to keep up with the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City, they will need to commit where it is necessary even if it is at the risk of being stung in the future, especially with a player like Isak.
The Sweden international has been the object of desire for several top teams in the Premier League even before his Newcastle tenure, more recently Arsenal were heavily linked to a potential move for the striker, looking to exploit the fact that the club were financially vulnerable in the summer.
There seems to be no viable reason why Isak would refuse to extend his contract with Newcastle at present as not only do they offer him the certainty of being a first-team mainstay, but it secures his future at a club that has an extremely attractive project to be a part of.
Ultimately, it is likely in the long-term to come down to what Newcastle can achieve on the European stage and whether they can grow to compete consistently at that level, which should be the very minimum career aim for a player like Isak.
With that being said, any progression to get deals done is good news for the St James’ Park faithful and if they can continue to push the boundaries by competing inside the top six, there is no reason why the future can’t be bright and long-lasting for both Isak and Gordon at Newcastle.
